Country Party (New Zealand)

Members of the branch increasingly came to believe that the Reform Party, which traditionally enjoyed much support in rural areas, was now putting the interests of farmers behind those of businesses in the city.

The Auckland branch was also strongly influenced by the social credit theory of monetary reform, promoted by C. H. Douglas.

[2] The Auckland branch grew increasingly frustrated with the Farmers' Union leadership, which did not support having an independent rural party.

[3] The Country Party was revived for the 1969 election by Clifford Stanley Emeny of New Plymouth (1920–2000), a World War II air force veteran.

The other seats contested were Ashburton, Hamilton West, Otago, Pahiatua, Raglan, Rangitikei, Rodney, Waikato, Waitomo and Wallace.